A former councillor is hoping to win his seat back in an upcoming by-election.

The Brighton and Hove Green Party has chosen Ollie Sykes as the Green Party candidate for the Brunswick and Adelaide by-election on Thursday, July 4, the same day as the General Election.

Mr Sykes held the same seat for the Greens on the council between 2011 and 2019 before he stood down.

He was the local Green Party’s finance lead for five years until May 2019 and was also the party’s candidate for Hove at the last general election, placing fourth.

The by-election is happening because Labour councillor Jilly Stevens had to stand down due to ill health.

The 75-year-old was the lead on customer service and secretary to the Labour Group.

Brighton and Hove Greens say Mr Sykes is the candidate who will “hold Labour to account” in a part of the city which has a strong reputation for voting Green. 

As a councillor, he campaigned successfully to stop the Labour-led council selling Hove Library and the council’s precious downland estate, as well as finding the funds to invest millions of pounds into climate action. 

Brunswick and Adelaide was represented by Green councillors for 12 years, when it was lost in the council elections last year by six votes. 

Mr Sykes said: “As a councillor who has represented this area, I will be ready to serve the residents of Brunswick and Adelaide from day one. There is now already one Labour councillor here, as well as a Labour-run Council, a Labour MP and soon a Labour government.

“The by-election on Thursday, July 4, is your opportunity to push those Labour politicians towards a more progressive and Green agenda.”

Councillor Steve Davis, leader of the opposition, said: “Ollie has a brilliant track record as a councillor and we would be delighted to have him return to the Green Group. His experience as a councillor for the ward means he can get stuck in, working hard for residents in Brunswick and Adelaide.

 “Labour won the seat by just six votes, so every Green vote counts.”